Brody said this proposal is especially concerning, because it comes after a deal with local universities that raised similar questions about newsroom autonomy.

A representative for the Orange County Register said publisher Aaron Kushner was traveling and couldn’t be reached for comment. Kushner has told his newspaper the deal wouldn’t affect editorial coverage of Anaheim.

“If you can't have a business relationship with someone you report on, then we wouldn't have any advertisers in the paper,” he told The Register.

At least one competitor was quick to criticize the proposal.

“We cover cities, we’re not brokers for them," said John Paton, CEO of Digital First Media, which runs the Long Beach Press-Telegram. "I think it speaks volumes about the lack of experience the team at the Orange County Register actually has in our business.”

Editor's note: This story has been changed from an earlier version to correct the university Jeffrey Brody teaches at and to reflect that the Voice of OC was not the first media outlet to report the deal.